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scornful

/ˈskɔrnfəl/
/ˈskɔnfəl/
IPA guide

A scornful remark is full of contempt, disdain, or — as you might imagine — scorn. Your obsessively fashionable friends might be scornful of others who don't wear the latest styles.

First used in the late 14th century, the adjective scornful originates from the Old French word escarn, meaning "mockery," "derision," or "contempt." You may have witnessed a contestant in a beauty pageant give scornful looks to her leading competitors. A list of scornful reviews from film critics usually precedes a film or actor's nomination for a Razzie, an award that recognizes the best of the worst in film each year.

Definitions of scornful
  1. adjective
    expressing extreme contempt
    disrespectful
    exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous
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